This is not a hit-laden album ala the Mellencamp of the 80’s, but is nevertheless very good. It’s quite a somber, serious album and the title says it all - the themes being life, death, love and freedom. Mellencamp continues to be a favorite of mine and this album is one of the reasons why.

I’m willing to accept that perhaps I just don’t “get” Radiohead. I read a number reviews heaping much praise upon this album but it just doesn’t blow me away like it did some reviewers. That said, it’s still a good album with several very good songs. It is possible, though, that I will appreciate it more with time.

I’ve been a fan of Osenga’s work since his days with The Normals (and more recently, Caedmon’s Call), but his solo albums I’ve acquired this year have been even better than his work with his other bands. I believe The Morning is without question his best to date.

Yeah, that’s right. Def Leppard, baby. Sure, their best work was in the form of Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987), but the guys from Sheffield can still get it done. Granted, this sounds pretty much the same as nearly everything else they’ve done post-80’s. It’s no better or worse, but, despite the use of some country singer on “Nine Lives”, I still like what they’re doing.

My first Arthur album, Nuclear Daydream, I’ve really enjoyed and it made my “honorable mention” last year. This EP (the third of four Arthur EP’s released this year) is good, although not on par with Daydream. Still, if you like Arthur, as I do, you’ll enjoy it.

Like Radiohead, it seems many think much more of MMJ than I do. Perhaps, again, I just don’t “get” them. I like this album, but it’s one of those that I believe I will lose interest in rather quickly. There are some songs I like, some I would be fine without. As a whole I just can’t get into it, or at least not yet.

I was mildly disappointed in Blindside’s last full-length effort a few years ago (The Great Depression), but the Swedish rockers came back strong with this EP. It incorporates some of the best elements of their previous work and is, on the whole, very good. (By the way, it’s available only online, and now on eMusic!)

I’ve always liked Sixpence & Leigh Nash, and I was glad to hear earlier this year that they had reunited and were recording again. I could listen to Leigh Nash sing just about anything, but this 4-song EP is fantastic (get it at noisetrade.com!) I look forward to more new music from Sixpence in the coming year.